A passion for waves keeps James “Jimbo” Welch on the move. Originally from Maui in the islands of Hawaii, he landed on Phuket a few years ago and is happy to call this isle home when not roving with a camera and surfboard.

Aside from surfing, he captures the beauty of waves on film. Recently returned from a trek to Indonesia, his unquenchable wanderlust and fascination for the cultures of south-east Asia produced a few thousand more images to add to his growing collection.

What’s in Jimbo’s bag?

A freelance life can be tracked by hotel toiletries collected along the way. A bar of soap from Sofitel Khon Kaen, a shower cap from the Nong Kai Grand – do guys really wear shower caps?

“No,” says a grinning Jimbo. “I use that in case it rains – to protect my camera”. Ah, tricks of the trade.

There’s also a sewing kit from either Hua Hin or Chiang Mai, he can’t remember which hotel. His most recent Thailand travels were on assignment for various airline magazines. He never quite knows where he’ll end up next.

“I was in Bali and an editor contacted me to head up to China with two days notice,” he recalls. “Only problem was, the region was deep in flood so I passed on that one”.

I spy a bundle of notes splayed out next to the underwater camera. There’s 240 000 bucks there. “Ha, I wish – it’s actually Laos kip, just a bit over twenty dollars”.

Magic Potion

A small bottle of golden liquid sits quietly begging attention. Jimbo explains that two ladies on a flight into Phuket gave it to him. Turns out, it was magic healing potion gifted them from a monk whom they had just met on a spiritual pilgrimage. The monk had special powers, they claimed.
“The ladies showed me some photos of this monk apparently shooting lightning from his hands – I could see the monk and some energy beams in the image,” he said. The people you meet on airplanes!

Other bits

The black backpack of many pockets is heavy with lenses and cords and CD’s of his work, all the usual paraphernalia one carries when serious about taking photos. What looks a ladies make-up brush turns out to be a lens cleaner.

Aside from “the brain” – as this camera dude calls his external hard-drive – there is another little black box thingy. It’s a personal recorder for those rare ‘I-can’t-believe-I-am-here’ moments.

“There was one time in Africa where I found myself in a hut full of chanting medicine men – now that was an experience well worth recording,” he said.

Extracting a pink guitar pick from the labyrinth Jimbo smiles in delight. “Thanks, I was looking for that”.

Memorabilia

Recognising an old wooden measure rule, he points out that it belonged to his grandpa. “I kinda use it, but keep it more as a memento, really,” he said fondly.

Another item of memorabilia catches my eye - a small card featuring religious themes. Reading the verse inside, Jimbo tells me that it is a keepsake from his late dad’s funeral ceremony. The words are very poignant for the keeper of this travel bag.

‘It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul’

- Kerrie Hall